David Moyes: Mind the gap, we’re closing it

AT FIRST glance the task should be daunting. Everton will make the short trip to Anfield tomorrow having not won there this century and with home supporters drooling in anticipation over the emotional return of Kenny Dalglish to their dugout.

David Moyes sees matters differently. “My bigger worry would be if Kenny was playing,” he said with a smile.

“He is a manager now, but I would worry more if he was still playing because he was such a good player. When I was a young player at Celtic, he was written in the club’s folklore. He was a legend, a truly unbelievable player.”

Moyes’ comments cut through the hype of the King’s second coming, seemingly offering a sobering reminder that reputation alone cannot transform the fortunes of bitter and ailing city rivals. That Everton have found the role they will play in this 184th derby over-shadowed once more during the build-up, should only serve to stoke their eagerness to turn party-poopers.

Back in October, the hullabaloo focused on new Liverpool owner John W Henry, whose first taste of English football was an unedifying one.

Sitting in the directors’ box over at Goodison, he saw his team flop to a 2-0 loss and was serenaded with chants of ‘You’ve bought the wrong club’ by an exultant Gwladys Street.

Now Dalglish’s first derby since he resigned following the tumultuous 4-4 FA Cup tie across Stanley Park 20 years ago next month has pushed Everton temporarily out of the spotlight. If there is pressure on Dalglish, then Moyes will also feel he has a real opportunity to capitalise fully on the mess that has engulfed his neighbours and post a first Everton win on enemy territory since Kevin Campbell scored in a 1-0 success in 1999.

Taking four points out of six available over two games against Liverpool would usually represent a good return for the blue fans, especially given Moyes’ record.

He has never won at Anfield, while his team have just three goals in eight visits in the league – all from Tim Cahill, who will follow the battle from a hotel room in Doha, where he is playing in the Asia Cup with Australia.

However, the absence for Liverpool of both Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher for the first time in a league derby since the 1-1 draw at Anfield in February of 2002 demands a positive approach from Everton, whose season has gained momentum from the recent victory over Tottenham.

Liverpool fans will not boo Dalglish if their team falter and a group of players who are already testing the patience could find themselves in the firing line if Everton feast on their insecurities.

“I have always thought that Gerrard and Carragher are the heartbeat of Liverpool,” said Moyes, who was at Bloomfield Road on Wednesday to see them lose against Blackpool and will have left buoyed by what happened.

“Those two keep their club going and are an integral part of what they do. They will have passed the message on and there are enough players who have been involved before to know what it means.”

It really would be a sign of troubled times if Dalglish were to select a five-man midfield at home in a derby and, in the event of him playing two up front, Moyes should back his own midfield quartet to come out on top, rather than asking someone to play off a lone forward.

His decision should be whether to select the muscular Victor Anichebe, who has troubled Liverpool before and look to gorge on his opponents’ defensive fragility, or stick by Jermaine Beckford alongside Louis Saha.

The league table shows the two sides locked together on 25 points. If a gap persists in people’s perceptions of the clubs, Moyes is adamant it is closing, with the stability his relationship with chairman Bill Kenwright brings in stark contrast to the upheaval elsewhere. Everton will be without the injured Phil Jagielka and are making plans for life without Steven Pienaar, with his impending move to Tottenham set to be sealed before Sunday.

Despite having never won at Anfield, Moyes has drawn four of his eight league visits and maintains his record should be placed in perspective.

“When you don’t win at places like Anfield, then you are questioned on it and no one considers the financial gap – and that’s the bit that gnaws away at me,” said Moyes, who is seeking to secure Everton’s first league double since 1984-85, when they finished as champions.

“We’ve always had a struggle against Liverpool because their resources have always been better, although when it comes to crossing the white line, that doesn’t matter.

“There are no excuses. The job as a manager is to go and win, no matter what your budget is.

“I can’t bother about Liverpool and what is happening over there, except to say that I want to give the Everton supporters something to shout about and feel as if they are closer to their neighbours now.

“Everton have narrowed the gap on Liverpool over recent seasons. And that’s something that all our supporters should realise.

“We’re much closer to Liverpool and maybe a lot of those supporters will be travelling over there thinking that we have a better chance.”